It's the first of May and that means one thing people... helloooo Cinco de Mayo week! For me, Cinco de Mayo is all about the food. So what better way to kick of the week than with chipotle chicken burrito bowls with cilantro rice? I'm talking oven-baked, tender, chipotle chicken breasts served over a bowl of lime cilantro rice, sautéed bell peppers, corn, black beans and a side of guacamole. These burrito bowls are healthy, low in fat and low in sugar. There really is no better way to kick off the week.

Ingredients in Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls
- chicken breasts - skinless and boneless
- seasoning for the chipotle chicken - olive oil, garlic, honey, ground cumin, chipotle chiles, and salt.
- long grain white rice
- flavour for the cilantro lime rice - lime juice, vegetable oil, salt, fresh cilantro
- vegetable oil
- bell peppers
- onion
- corn - I used frozen, but you can also substitute with fresh or canned.
- black beans - I used canned beans, but you can also cook dried black beans. Note that you will need to soak dry beans for at least 8 hours or overnight before cooking.
- guacamole - I used my homemade guacamole.


How to Make the Perfect Burrito Bowls
There are 3 key components in the perfect burrito bowls: chicken, rice and toppings. The secret to getting this meal prepared quickly, in 30 minutes, while nothing gets cold while you are waiting for the other ingredients to cook, is to coordinate the prep and cooking of every component, so that they all come together at the exact same time. Note that the 30 minute cook time does not take into account the the 2 hour time required to marinate the chicken. This has to be done in advance.
Here is what you need to do to make these burrito bowls:
- Make the chipotle chicken. In a blender, puree together the olive oil, garlic, honey, cumin, chipotle chiles and salt until smooth. Place chicken breasts in a ziplock bag and pour the marinade inside. Seal the bag and let marinate for 2 hours in the refrigerator. Then, bake chicken for 20-25 minutes in a preheated 450 F oven.
- Make the cilantro lime rice. In a medium sized pot, wash the rice thoroughly and drain. Stir in water, lime juice, vegetable oil and salt to the pot. Bring to a boil, and once the rice has absorbed the water, turn the heat down to low and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes until rice is soft. Mix in the cilantro and serve.
- Sauté the onions and bell peppers. Heat oil in a large frying pan. Sauté the onions and bell peppers for 3-4 minutes until slightly tender.
- Cook the corn. In a small pot, add the corn and water. Heat over medium high for 5 minutes. Once cooked, drain in a colander.
- Prepare black beans. Drain and wash the canned black beans. Heat over medium high for 5 minutes until warm.
- Make guacamole. see recipe link.
- Assemble the burrito bowls. Place an equal portion of rice into the bottom of each bowl. Decorate the border with corn, black beans, and sautéed onions and bell peppers. Slice the chicken and place it in the centre of each bowl. Top off with a scoop of guacamole.

More Mexican-Inspired Recipes
- Creamy Mexican Corn Soup
- Easy Fish Tacos with Lime Crema
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Butternut Squash Quesadillas
- Easy 5-Ingredient Salsa
Recipe
Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls with Lime Cilantro Rice
- Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Description
It's time for a fiesta with chipotle chicken burrito bowls served with lime cilantro rice, sautéed bell peppers, corn, black beans and guacamole.
Ingredients
Chipotle Chicken:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 chipotle chiles, in adobo sauce
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
Cilantro Lime Rice:
- 1 + ½ cups long grain rice
- 2 + ½ cups water
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- ½ tablespoon vegetable oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Toppings:
- ½ tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ medium onion, sliced
- 1-2 bell peppers (any colour), sliced
- ½ cup corn kernels, frozen
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup canned black beans
- ½ cup homemade guacamole
Instructions
Chipotle Chicken:
- In a food processor or blender, puree together the olive oil, garlic, honey, cumin, chipotle chiles and salt until smooth. Place chicken breasts in a ziplock bag and pour the marinade inside. Seal the bag and let marinate for 2 hours in the refrigerator.
- Preheat oven to 450 F. Bake chicken for 20-25 minutes until chicken is no longer pink inside and internal temperature is 165 F.
Cilantro Lime Rice:
- In a medium sized pot, wash the rice thoroughly and drain. Add water, lime juice, vegetable oil and salt to the pot. Give it a good stir. Bring to a boil, uncovered, over high heat until the water evaporates and the rice has absorbed the water (about 4-5 minutes).
- Turn the heat down to low and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes until rice is soft. Mix in the cilantro and serve.
Toppings:
- Sauteed onions and bell peppers: Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan. Sauté the onions and bell peppers for 3-4 minutes until slightly tender. Remove from heat.
- Corn: In a small pot, add the frozen corn and water. Heat over medium high for 5 minutes. Once cooked, drain in a colander.
- Black beans: Drain and wash the canned black beans. Heat over medium high for 5 minutes until warm.
- Guacamole: see recipe link
Assemble the Burrito Bowls:
- Place an equal portion of rice into the bottom of each bowl. Decorate the border with corn, black beans, and sautéed onions and bell peppers.
- Slice the chicken and place it in the centre of each bowl.
- Top off with a scoop of guacamole.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (+2 hours wait time)
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Cuisine: Mexican





Michelle Gwynn Jones says
A lot of recipes look like a lot of steps until you get going. This sounds great. I make cilantro lime rice all the time.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
You're right, Michelle. Once you dive in, it's actually not too difficult 🙂
Elizabeth O. says
I'm sure this dish is packed with flavor and who doesn't love chipotle, right? This is such a filling bowl of goodness, with the beans and the corn and everything else. Thanks for sharing the recipe, the chicken looks good!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Thanks, Elizabeth! Yes it's super filling! I couldn't finish my bowl so that meant leftovers for lunch the next day 🙂
James Kiester says
Looks fabulous!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you, James!
Sarah Bailey says
Now this looks like something I would love to tuck into - what a delicious sounding meal. x
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Thanks, Sarah. Enjoy 🙂
Ana De- Jesus says
Oh yum I would love to recreate a veggie version using Quorn chicken fillets yum yum!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Yum! That is a great idea 🙂
Ali @ Home & Plate says
This is my kind of recipe. The chicken recipe alone is perfect. But make some extra and you have a burrito bowl in the making for the following night. My boys would go crazy over this dish. It has everything you need in one place. Love it!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Thanks, Ali! Great idea! 🙂